Colon and Rectal Surgery

Colon and rectal operations are performed for a range of conditions, from simple rectal problems such as hemorrhoids and fissures to more complicated colon and rectal cancers and complex inflammatory bowel disease. Symptoms might include bleeding, pain, lumps, itching or discharge. Some colon and rectal conditions can be uncovered during routine colonoscopies, making screenings important if you are a high-risk adult or over the age of 50 years.

Discover Our Difference

University of Minnesota Health surgeons are skilled in performing colon and rectal operations. Many anal and rectal disorders can be treated during the course of one visit to our Surgery Clinic. If you have a more complex condition, we will assemble a multidisciplinary team to care for you, using the most modern therapies and surgical skills available today. Most of our operations are minimally invasive, providing you with smaller incisions, less pain after surgery, a shorter hospital stay and faster recovery. We specialize in bowel preservation and sphincter-sparing surgery to preserve your natural bowel function.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

We offer highly specialized care when it comes to treating advanced inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. We have dedicated experts who understand the complexities of IBD and work closely with other specialists, including gastroenterologists, to create a personalized treatment plan based on the severity of your disorder. Our goal is to treat your condition without surgery whenever possible.

Cancer

If you have colon, rectal or anal cancer, your surgeon will determine the best course of treatment for you. We offer a multidisciplinary approach, involving medical and radiation oncologists, if necessary.

Colon Cancer: Surgery is the primary option for colon cancer, and consists of removing a piece of your colon and reconnecting the two remaining sections. If your cancer is advanced, you may need chemotherapy in addition to surgery. Even if your colon cancer has spread to other organs, you can be treated successfully with our aggressive multidisciplinary approach. If your cancer has spread throughout your abdomen, we use a unique treatment option called hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) to bathe your abdominal cavity with heated chemotherapy to eliminate the majority of microscopic cancer cells that might remain after surgery.

Rectal Cancer: If your diagnosis is rectal cancer, your treatment path will depend on the extent of your cancer. For early stage rectal cancers, we perform local excision (a smaller operation that removes the cancer through the rectum). If your rectal cancer is more advanced, you may need radiation and/or chemotherapy, followed by surgery. Some patients experience a complete response to the radiation or chemotherapy and can potentially avoid surgery, but they will be followed closely to watch for any recurrence.

Anal Cancer: If you have been diagnosed with anal cancer, our surgeons have several options. Small, external anal cancers can often be removed with a local resection. Larger cancers may require radiation and chemotherapy instead.

We specialize in complex colon and rectal operations requiring multiple surgeons for advanced cancers or when multiple organ systems are involved. Your physician will discuss all options with you. We have a high cure rate for colon, rectal and anal cancers that are caught early, and most patients retain their natural bowel function.

Our physicians are faculty members at the University of Minnesota Medical School and are involved in colorectal cancer research, as well as research involving familial colorectal cancer, pelvic floor disorders, accidental bowel leakage, diverticulitis, colorectal surgery outcomes and health informatics. Ask your surgeon about participating in one of our clinical trials.

Research Interests

Our colon and rectal surgeons perform research in the following areas:

Rectal cancer

Diverticulitis

Minimally invasive colon and rectal surgery

Pelvic Floor Disorders including ABL (accidental bowel leakage)

Colorectal Surgery outcomes

Familial colorectal cancer

Health informatics

Training the Next Generation

The colorectal surgery training program at the University of Minnesota is the oldest and one of the most highly regarded in the world. Our faculty is dedicated to the training of residents who will become future leaders in the field.

Leading Research

Colorectal surgeons at the University of Minnesota conduct cutting-edge research in colorectal cancer, diverticulitis, outcomes after surgery, and on how to prevent infections after surgery.

Discrimination is Against the Law. We comply with applicable Federal civil rights laws and Minnesota laws. We do not discriminate against, exclude or treat people differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation or gender identity. Please see our Patients’ Bill of Rights.